Shoe sole including shock absorbing structure

ABSTRACT

[Problem to be Solved] To reduce the feeling of fatigue and improve the wearing feeling of shoes by dispersing shock transmitted to a front portion, a center portion, and a rear portion of a foot through a main sole during walking. 
     [Solution] A main sole ( 10 ) of a shoe according to the present invention is created in a curved shape so that the front and rear are separated from the ground, the main sole ( 10 ) of the shoe comprising: a first cushion space (S 1 ) arranged at a position corresponding to an arch of a foot of a wearer; a second cushion space (S 2 ) arranged at a position closer to a heel than the first cushion space (S 1 ); and a third cushion space (S 3 ) arranged at a position closer to toes than the first cushion space (S 1 ) and provided with a plurality of projections inside.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shoe sole.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, among shoes for wearing, athletic shoes are provided with amaterial that allows the wearer to stand up by stepping on the ground,the material serving as a bottom surface of the upper that covers thefoot.

Recently, functional shoes that attain a sufficient motional effect justby wearing the shoes and walking are being developed and sold.

Among the functional shoes, shoes for walking like Masai people, theshoes without rear axes of the shoes, the back of the main sole forminga curved surface (arc shape), are called Masai Walking active rollingwalking footware (walking footwear that rotates) in South Korean PatentNo. 10-377822 (Patent Literature 1), and a method of walking by “MasaiWalking” is further described.

The Korea Walking Association, the World Walking Association, the shoeindustry, and general customers call the shoes for walking like Masaipeople “Masai Barefoot Technology”, the shoes without rear axes of theshoes, the back of the main sole forming a curved surface (arc shape).The shoes are called Masai Walking shoes or Masai people walking shoesnot only on the Internet, but also in newspapers, magazines, and on TV.

As shown in FIG. 1, a main sole (10) applied and arranged on the shoemainly includes an insole (12) bonded to an upper (1), a midsole (14)that prevents shock and twisting, and an outsole (16) provided with athread that touches the ground to prevent slippage.

In general, the motions performed by the foot of the wearer against theground during walking can be roughly classified into three stages. Morespecifically, the three stages include: 1. landing stage of the heel; 2.stage that the center of gravity moves from the heel to the toes; and 3.stage of stepping hard on the ground by the front of the foot anddetaching. The foot of the wearer repeats these three stages (motions).

The rear axis of the conventional shoes is substantially perpendicularto the ground. As for the heel, the landing area is small, and the smallportion first touches the ground. Therefore, the shock at landing islarge, and the movement of the center of the gravity, which is the stagefollowing the landing, is immediately performed. Thus, sudden shock isapplied not only to the joints of the foot, but also to the foot and thejoints of the body. As a result, the feeling of landing is poor, andwalking may be unnatural.

In contrast, the main sole of the shoe created to have the form of Masaipeople walking may solve the problems.

The athletic shoes developed for the purpose of the motions are usuallycreated by using more flexible (soft) polyurethane with excellentresilience so that the material provides the shoes with the feeling ofcushion as a way to absorb shock by the midsole of the main sole.

However, an example of a method of meeting (clearing) conditions thatthe body of the wearer needs to satisfy in order for the loaded sole ofthe foot to sustain the load in a balanced manner includes a method ofcreating the midsole to make the hardness of the midsole different inthe front and rear to realize more stable wearing feeling. There are twomethods of creating the midsole to make the hardness partiallydifferent, a method of making the thickness different at each positionand a method of compressing the part.

Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the cost of creating the midsolein the main sole of the shoe is high, and moreover, there isparticularly a problem that the function of mitigating the shock appliedto the body from the ground when the shoes are put on for walking isrelatively reduced.

In consideration of the points, there is a method of creating the shoesby inserting a spring material with a cushion effect or an INSERTcushion reinforcing material made of a material with different hardnessinto the insole and the midsole. However, this also poses a problem ofreduction in the productivity caused by a substantial increase in thecost.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: South Korean Patent No. 10-377822

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention has been devised to solve the conventionalproblems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce thefeeling of fatigue and improving the wearing feeling of shoes byimproving constituent elements of a main sole of a shoe including aninsole, a midsole, and an outsole and by dispersing shock transmitted toa front portion, a center portion, and a rear portion of the footthrough the main sole during walking.

Solution to Problem

A main sole of a shoe according to the present invention devised toattain the object is formed in a curved shape so that the front and rearare spaced (separated) from the ground, the main sole of the shoecomprising: a first cushion space (S1) arranged at a positioncorresponding to an arch of a foot of a wearer; a second cushion space(S2) arranged at a position closer to a heel than the first cushionspace (S1); and a third cushion space (S3) arranged at a position closerto toes than the first cushion space (S1) and provided with projectionsinside.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the main sole(10) comprises: an insole (12) bonded to an upper; a midsole (14) thatattaches to a bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock fromthe ground and that prevents twisting; and an outsole (16) including athread that attaches to a bottom surface of the midsole (14) to preventslippage from the ground, and a protrusion (16 a) that supports thecenter of the bottom surface of the midsole (14) at a positionvertically below the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer isformed at the center of an upper surface of the outsole (16), while afirst recessed portion (16-1) that is spaced (separated) from the bottomsurface of the midsole (14) and that forms the first cushion space (S1)is formed at the center of the protrusion (16 a).

A second recessed portion (14-2) forming the second cushion space (S2)and a third recessed portion (14-1) forming the third cushion space (S3)that are spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the insole (12)to mitigate shock applied to front and rear sections around the arch ofthe sole of the foot of the wearer may be formed on an upper surface ofthe midsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3) corresponding to thefirst cushion space (S1) relative to the first recessed portion (16-1)may be formed on a center portion of the bottom surface of the midsole(14), a fifth recessed portion (12-1) corresponding to the secondcushion space (S2) relative to the third recessed portion (14-2) of themidsole (14) may be formed on the bottom surface of the insole (12), andthe projections arranged inside the third cushion space (S3) may be aplurality of shock mitigating projections (12 a) for dispersing shockthat are formed at positions corresponding to the second recessedportion (14-1) of the midsole (14) on the bottom surface of the insole(12).

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the main sole(10) may comprise: an insole (12) bonded to an upper; a midsole (14)that attaches to a bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shockfrom the ground and that prevents twisting; and an outsole (16)including a thread that attaches to a bottom surface of the midsole (14)to prevent slippage from the ground, a protrusion (16 a) that supportsthe center of the bottom surface of the midsole (14) at a positionvertically below the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer may beformed at the center of an upper surface of the outsole (16), while afirst recessed portion (16-1) that is spaced (separated) from the bottomsurface of the midsole (14) and that forms the first cushion space (S1)may be formed at the center of the protrusion (16 a), a third recessedportion (14-2) forming the second cushion space (S2) and a secondrecessed portion (14-1) forming the third cushion space (S3) that arespaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the insole (12) tomitigate shock applied to front and rear sections around the arch of thesole of the foot of the wearer may be formed on an upper surface of themidsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3) corresponding to thefirst cushion space (S1) relative to the first recessed portion (16-1)may be formed on a center portion of the bottom surface of the midsole(14), a fifth recessed portion (12-1) corresponding to the secondcushion space (S2) relative to the third recessed portion (14-2) of themidsole (14) may be formed on the bottom surface of the insole (12), andthe projections arranged inside the third cushion space (S3) may be aplurality of convex portions (14 a) formed on the second recessedportion (14-1).

It is preferable if a reinforcing iron (11) that supports the arch andthe rear of the sole of the foot and that controls twisting of the mainsole (10) is embedded inside the insole (12). In this case, thereinforcing iron (11) may form a curved line relative to the ground, areinforcing groove (11 a) may be formed in a longitudinal direction ofthe reinforcing iron (11), and a supporting groove (11 b) that preventsmovement inside the insole (12) may be formed at one end.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can easily and efficiently absorb shock applied tothe front portion, the center portion, and the rear portion of the soleof the foot of the wearer in the main sole of the shoe formed by bondingthe insole, the midsole, and the outsole, and the present invention canattain an effect of significantly reducing fatigue caused by walkingafter the shoes are put on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a conventional shoe and a main sole of theshoe.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main sole of a shoeaccording to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the main soleaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view (partially enlarged view) showing components ofthe main sole of the shoe according to the first embodiment, the sideview showing cushioning actions of the components.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the main soleof the shoe according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the main sole of the shoeaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view (partially enlarged view) showing components ofthe main sole of the shoe according to the second embodiment, the sideview showing cushioning actions of the components.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded main sole of a shoe according to a firstembodiment (exploded perspective view), and FIG. 3 is a perspective viewshowing an assembled state of the main sole of the shoe. FIG. 4 is aside view (partially enlarged view) showing components of the main soleof the shoe according to the first embodiment, the side view showingshock cushioning actions that the components have.

A main sole (10) of the shoe of the first embodiment includes an insole(12) that bonds to an upper, a midsole (14) that attaches with a bottomsurface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock from the ground and preventtwisting, and an outsole (16) including a thread that attaches with abottom surface of the midsole (14) to prevent slippage from the ground.The front and the rear of the midsole (14) and the outsole (16) formcurved lines relative to the ground so as to be spaced (separated) fromthe ground.

A protrusion (16 a) that supports the center of the bottom surface ofthe midsole (14) at a position vertically below the arch (shank section)of the sole of the foot of the wearer is formed at the center of theupper surface of the outsole (16), while a first recessed portion (16-1)that is spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the midsole (14)and that forms a first cushion space (S1) is formed at the center of theprotrusion (16 a).

For the front portion and the rear portion on the bottom surface of theoutsole (16), a material formed by injecting an I.G. (Integral SkinForm) resin and a non-foam resin (Non Form) to an ester-urethane resingenerally used for the sole of the shoe is used to form a nonskidportion (not shown). As a result of mixing the I.G. (Integral Skin Form)resin and the non-foam resin (Non Form) with the ester-urethane resin,the frictional force increases as compared to when only theester-urethane resin is used, and a significantly excellent nonskideffect can be obtained.

The midsole (14) has a structure including, on the upper surface, asecond recessed portion (14-2) including (forming) a second cushionspace (S2) and a third recessed portion (14-1) corresponding to a thirdcushion space (S3) that are spaced (separated) from the bottom surfaceof the insole (12) to mitigate shock applied to the front and rearsections around the arch (shank section) of the sole of the foot of thewearer and including, at the center portion of the bottom surface, afourth recessed portion (14-3) extended and formed so as to correspondto the cushion space (S1) for the first recessed portion (16-1).

A Soft Form resin is used to form the foam to create the midsole (14).The hardness and the density of the resin are the least among the gradesof the resins used for the sole of the shoe, and the resin is adoptedfor soft shoes wearing feeling and for lightening. As the resin issofter than the insole, the resin is excellent in the bending propertyof the sole of the shoe.

An extended fifth recessed portion (12-1) is formed on the bottomsurface of the insole (S12) so as to correspond to the cushion space(S2) for the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14), and amultiplicity of shock mitigating projections (12 a) for dispersing shockare formed on the bottom surface corresponding to the second recessedportion (14-1) of the midsole (14).

Actions provided by a shock absorbing structure included in the mainsole of the shoe according to the present embodiment with the structurewill be described in detail.

As is already known, the insole (12) is first attached to the upper (notshown in the drawings) having a form of a shoe, and then the midsole(14) and the outsole (14) are attached in this order to create the mainsole (10).

After the attachment of the soles, the front portions and the rearportions of the bottom surfaces of the constituent elements of the mainsole (10) generally have rounding shapes. A motional effect can beobtained through a Masai people walking system, and a motional effectcan be obtained while reducing fatigue by shock absorbing structuresincluded in the insole (12), the midsole (14), and the outsole (16) ofthe main sole of the shoe.

As is already known, the shock applied to the sole of the foot inwalking and running while the shoes are put on is usually cushioned bythe midsole (14) to reduce the fatigue. However, the present inventionis constituted to more easily absorb the shock applied to the frontportion, the center portion, and the rear portion of the sole of thefoot.

The front portion of the sole of the foot is adhered to the uppersurface in the second recessed portion (14-1), in which the multiplicityof shock mitigating projections (12 a), which are formed on the bottomsurface of the insole (12), are formed on the upper part of the midsole(14). The shock is absorbed by dispersing and transmitting the loadapplied by the load of the body of the wearer to the midsole (14)through the shock mitigating projections (12 a). As a result, the wearercan perform more stable landing. The shock is absorbed through the shockmitigating projections (12 a), and the cushion space (S3) formed by thesecond recessed portion (14-1) formed on the upper part of the midsole(14) for the bottom surface of the insole (12) has a cushion effect,although not large, to reduce the fatigue of the front portion of thefoot.

The first cushion space (S1) formed by the fourth recessed portion(14-3) formed at the bottom of the midsole (14) and by the firstrecessed portion (16-1) dented inward at the center portion of the upperprotrusion (16 a) of the outsole (16) repeats a contraction andrestoration process in the directions of the arrows shown in FIG. 4 toabsorb the shock transmitted to the arch (shank section) of the foot ofthe wearer in the main sole (10) of the shoe.

Meanwhile, the second cushion space (S2) formed by the fifth recessedportion (12-1) of the insole (12) and by the third recessed portion(14-2) of the midsole (14) repeats a contraction and restoration processbased on the action of the force in the directions of the arrows appliedfrom the load of the sole of the foot and the ground to absorb the shockand load applied to the rear portion of the sole of the foot of thewearer.

The shock absorption is enabled by defining the cushion space at eachportion (front, center, and rear) of the main sole of the shoe. An idealcushion effect can be obtained by the midsole located between the insoleand the outsole, and the feeling of fatigue can be significantly reducedas compared to when existing shoes are put on for exercise.

Although the first embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed, the configuration of the present invention is not limited tothe example, and various changes can be made without changing the scopeof the invention.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 5 to V. The same constituent elementsas the main sole (10) of the shoe in the first embodiment are designatedwith the same reference numerals.

A multiplicity of convex portions (14 a) are formed on the secondrecessed portion (14-1) of the midsole (14) in the main sole (10) of theshoe according to the second embodiment, and the main sole (10) isconfigured to be more easily bent by the convex portions (14 a).

The upper surface of the insole (12) in the main sole (10) of the shoeaccording to the second embodiment is flat. This is advantageous thatforeign matters entered from a slight gap are unlikely to remain on theupper surface of the insole (12) even if the gap is formed between, forexample, the upper and the insole (12) during use, as compared to when aplurality of concave portions are arranged on the upper surface as inthe insole (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the first embodiment. Furthermore, areinforcing iron (11) for controlling twisting of the main sole (10) bysupporting the arch (shank section) of the sole of the foot and the rearof the arch is embedded in the insole (12) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The reinforcing iron (11) forms a curved line relative to the ground,and a reinforcing groove (11 a) that provides a steel property to thereinforcing iron (11) is formed in the longitudinal direction. Asupporting groove (lib) that is engaged inside the insole (12) toprevent the reinforcing iron (11) from moving (particularly in thehorizontal direction) is formed at one end of the reinforcing iron (11),or specifically, an end positioned closer to the heel of the main sole(10).

The insole (12) is molded and created after the foam is formed using theI.G. (Integral Skin Form) resin, and the surface has a high-densitystructure and is highly durable. Comfortable wearing feeling is realizedby providing cushion, and the insole (12) has a structure for mitigatingshock.

As in the first embodiment, the front portions and the rear portions ofthe bottom surfaces of the constituent elements of the attached mainsole (10) generally have rounding shapes in the main sole of the shoeaccording to the second embodiment with the structure. A motional effectthat can be obtained through the Masai people walking system isobtained, and a motional effect can be obtained while reducing fatigueby shock absorbing structures included in the insole (12), the midsole(14), and the outsole (16) of the main sole of the shoe.

As is already known, the shock applied to the sole of the foot inwalking and running while the shoes are put on is usually cushioned bythe midsole (14) to reduce the fatigue. However, as in the firstembodiment, the main sole (10) of the second embodiment is constitutedto more easily absorb the shock applied to the front portion, the centerportion, and the rear portion of the sole of the foot.

The front portion of the sole of the foot has excellent flexibility dueto the multiplicity of convex portions (14 a) formed on the uppersurface of the midsole (14). The main sole (10) is more easily bentduring walking or driving, and the wearing feeling is excellent. Thiscan provide an effect of significantly reducing the feeling of fatigueduring operation of the pedal of a vehicle or the like.

The reinforcing iron (11) embedded in the insole (12) constituting themain sole (10) is embedded during molding of the insole. The action ofthe supporting groove (11 b) inside the insole (12) can control twistingor unnatural curving of the main sole and can keep the form of the mainsole stable.

More specifically, the reinforcing iron (11) generally protects themiddle part of the main sole and reduces twisting of the main sole (10)that may occur during walking or exercise while the shoes are put on.The reinforcing iron (11) forms a curved line from the ground andprovides elasticity when pressure is applied to the insole (12). Thereinforcing groove (11 a) formed on the reinforcing iron (11) preventsdeformation of the reinforcing iron (11) that maintains the curved line.

A delicate cushion effect can be obtained in the third cushion space(S3) generated by the formation of the second recessed portion (14-1) ofthe midsole (14) relative to the bottom surface of the insole (12), andfatigue of the entire sole of the foot can be reduced.

The first cushion space (S1) formed by the fourth recessed portion(14-3) formed at the bottom of the midsole (14) and by the firstrecessed portion (16-1) dented inward at the center portion of the upperprotrusion (16 a) of the outsole (16) repeats a contraction andrestoration process in the directions of the arrows shown in FIG. 4 toabsorb the shock transmitted to the arch (shank section) of the foot ofthe wearer in the main sole (10) of the shoe.

Meanwhile, the second cushion space (S2) formed by the fifth recessedportion (12-1) of the insole (12) and by the third recessed portion(14-2) of the midsole (14) repeats a contraction and restoration processbased on the action of the force in the directions of the arrows appliedfrom the load of the sole of the foot and the ground to absorb the shockand load applied to the rear portion of the sole of the foot of thewearer.

The shock absorption is enabled by defining the cushion space at eachportion (front, center, and rear) of the main sole of the shoe. An idealcushion effect can be obtained by the midsole located between the insoleand the outsole, and the feeling of fatigue can be significantly reducedas compared to when existing shoes are put on for exercise.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 main sole of shoe-   11 reinforcing iron-   11 a recessed portion-   11 b supporting groove-   12 insole-   12-1 fifth recessed portion-   12 a shock mitigating projection-   14 midsole-   14-1 second recessed portion-   14-2 third recessed portion-   14-3 fourth recessed portion-   14 a convex portion-   16 outsole-   16-1 first recessed portion-   16 protrusion

1. A main sole (10) of a shoe formed in a curved shape so that the frontand rear are separated from the ground, the main sole (10) of the shoecomprising: a first cushion space (S1) arranged at a positioncorresponding to an arch of a foot of a wearer; a second cushion space(S2) arranged closer to a heel than the first cushion space (S1); and athird cushion space (S3) arranged closer to toes than the first cushionspace (S1) and provided with projections inside.
 2. The main sole (10)according to claim 1, wherein the main sole (10) comprises: an insole(12) bonded to an upper; a midsole (14) that attaches to a bottomsurface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock from the ground and thatprevents twisting; and an outsole (16) including a thread that attachesto a bottom surface of the midsole (14) to prevent slippage from theground, a protrusion (16 a) that supports the center of the bottomsurface of the midsole (14) at a position vertically below the arch ofthe sole of the foot of the wearer is formed at the center of an uppersurface of the outsole (16), while a first recessed portion (16-1) thatis spaced from the bottom surface of the midsole (14) and that forms thefirst cushion space (S1) is formed at the center of the protrusion (16a), a second recessed portion (14-2) forming the second cushion space(S2) and a third recessed portion (14-1) forming the third cushion space(S3) that are spaced from the bottom surface of the insole (12) tomitigate shock applied to front and rear sections around the arch of thesole of the foot of the wearer are formed on an upper surface of themidsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3) corresponding to thefirst cushion space (S1) relative to the first recessed portion (16-1)is formed on a center portion of the bottom surface of the midsole (14),a fifth recessed portion (12-1) corresponding to the second cushionspace (S2) relative to the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole(14) is formed on the bottom surface of the insole (12), and theprojections arranged inside the third cushion space (S3) are a pluralityof shock mitigating projections (12 a) for dispersing shock that areformed at positions corresponding to the second recessed portion (14-1)of the midsole (14) on the bottom surface of the insole (12).
 3. Themain sole (10) according to claim 1, wherein the main sole (10)comprises: an insole (12) bonded to an upper; a midsole (14) thatattaches to a bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock fromthe ground and that prevents twisting; and an outsole (16) including athread that attaches to a bottom surface of the midsole (14) to preventslippage from the ground, a protrusion (16 a) that supports the centerof the bottom surface of the midsole (14) at a position vertically belowthe arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer is formed at the centerof an upper surface of the outsole (16), while a first recessed portion(16-1) that is spaced from the bottom surface of the midsole (14) andthat forms the first cushion space (S1) is formed at the center of theprotrusion (16 a), a third recessed portion (14-2) forming the secondcushion space (S2) and a second recessed portion (14-1) forming thethird cushion space (S3) that are spaced from the bottom surface of theinsole (12) to mitigate shock applied to front and rear sections aroundthe arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer are formed on an uppersurface of the midsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3)corresponding to the first cushion space (S1) relative to the firstrecessed portion (16-1) is formed on a center portion of the bottomsurface of the midsole (14), a fifth recessed portion (12-1)corresponding to the second cushion space (S2) relative to the thirdrecessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14) is formed on the bottomsurface of the insole (12), and the projections arranged inside thethird cushion space (S3) are a plurality of convex portions (14 a)formed on the second recessed portion (14-1).
 4. The main sole (10)according to claim 3, wherein a reinforcing iron (11) that supports thearch and the rear of the sole of the foot and that controls twisting ofthe main sole (10) is embedded inside the insole (12).
 5. The main sole(10) according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing iron (11) forms acurved line relative to the ground, a reinforcing groove (11 a) isformed in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing iron (11), and asupporting groove (11 b) that prevents movement inside the insole (12)is formed at one end.